Indigenous elders deny tourists access to Cape York Tip over ‘disrespectful’ behaviour

Traditional landowners in Cape York have locked down access to a popular tourist attraction after repeated vandalism attacks and lack of respect.

Traditional landowners in Cape York have locked down access to a popular tourist attraction after repeated vandalism attacks and a general lack of respect.

For several years, the custodians of the Northern Peninsula have put up with disrespectful visitors covering cliffs at the Tip walking trail in graffiti, littering, defecating and the use of unregistered fire arms in the area.

Now, effective immediately, access to Australia’s most northern point will officially be denied to tourists.

At an annual general meeting last Wednesday, Gudang/Yahaykenu Aboriginal Corporation chairman Michael Solomon said a proposal to pull the trigger on denying access was on the agenda, but a decision could not be reached, the Cairns Post reports.

Native titleholders – who were granted freehold rights to 211 hectares of land at Pajinka in 2011 – made the call to bring down the boom gate on key areas within the Northern Peninsula region at a later discussion.

“I spoke to traditional landowners and we discussed and decided to close the country to tourists (at) Captain Bill’s Landing, Pajinka (the Tip), Ussher Point and Somerset because of disrespect to tradition landowners,” Mr Solomon said.

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Tourists will no longer be permitted access to Cape York’s Ussher Point.

Traditional owner and Gudang/Yadhaykenu Aboriginal Corporation chairman Michael Solomon. Picture: Supplied

The discussion, he said, was regarding upgrading the toilet facility – after tourists reportedly used nearby bushland due to lack of facilities – and water and awareness of COVID-19.

“They make their own tracks and drive down the beach, they come with quad bikes and pig dogs,” Mr Solomon said of some tourists, adding that they had turned the Tip into a “rubbish tip”.

“We have had enough and I am concerned. We have been here for a long time but cannot go forward, people just don’t recognise the traditional landowners.”

Long-term Bamaga resident and Cape York guide book author Tracy Sands told the Cairns Post last Tuesday that the call “comes back to a lack of respect and people doing stupid things”.

“I went up (to the Tip) last year and there was idiots fishing in the nude and the (travellers sticking) plaques at the top of the cliffs,” Ms Sands said.

“People up here are the most amazing people but they can only take so much before they close things down.”

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Graffiti on rock cliffs at the Tip of Cape York has been widely condemned. Picture: Shantell Kennell

Cape York graffiti at Australia's most northern point. Picture: Shantell Kennell

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Craig Crawford told the publication there had been a precedent set in Central Australia when traditional owners exercised land rights granted under federal native title law.

“Certainly what you are seeing here is no different to what you are seeing in Uluru and stopping people from climbing the rock,” he said, referring to the landmark 2019 decision.

“We do need to respect that they are the traditional owners of that land and it gives them certain rights.

“I don’t think that this is someone flexing their muscle, there is bigger things occurring here and we need to understand where the traditional owners are coming from.

“I probably do agree with them, they probably do need some upgrades, no one should be defecating in the scrub.

“I don’t think this is them saying they don’t want tourists, but at the same time they are traditional owners and they deserve respect.”

Signs will be erected at the Jardine River ferry crossing, and tourists will no longer be permitted past the Croc Tent on Pajinka Road.